Sir Quentin Blake

Illustrator/Writer

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Books

Agent: Caradoc King
Assistant: Becky Percival

Film, TV & Theatre

Agent: St John Donald
Assistant: Anthony Joblin

Books

Quentin Blake has been drawing ever since he can remember and has always made his living as an illustrator, though for many years he taught at the Royal College of Art, where he was Head of the Illustration Department from 1978 to1986. He is known for his collaborations with writers such as Russell Hoban, John Yeoman, and most famously Roald Dahl. He has also illustrated classic books for adults and created much-loved characters of his own such as MR MAGNOLIA and MRS ARMITAGE. MR MAGNOLIA was winner of the Kate Greenaway Medal in 1988; ALL JOIN IN won the Kurt Maschler Award in 1990; and CLOWN won the International Bologna Ragazzi Prize in 1996. He also curates exhibitions and is a Patron of the Campaign for Drawing.

Quentin Blake was made an OBE in 1988, and, in the words of The Guardian, was ‘already a national institution’ when he was appointed the first ever Children’s Laureate in 1999. In the spring of 2002 he was named Illustrator of the Year in the Hans Christian Andersen Awards, and collected his CBE in 2005.

Roald Dahl and Quentin Blake's collaboration is one of the most famous in children's literature, and 2017 saw the publication of BILLY AND THE MINPINS (Penguin), the final Blake/Dahl collaboration. 'A new Roald Dahl character to draw, nearly 40 years after my first' (Quentin Blake on illustrating 'Billy and the Minpins') I was reassured to know that the original version was to be kept in print. Although my text was to be identical, it was going to be called 'Billy and the Minpins', which was the alternative title that appears in Roald’s handwriting on the original manuscript. The new book, in small format, would have about 120 pages; the words would run to nearly 60 pages, so that virtually half the space was available for illustration.' 

2020 saw the publication of THE WEED, an inspiring fable about the power of nature, encouraging children and adults alike to care for the environment and each other. The Meadowsweet family suddenly and expectedly find themselves at the bottom of a giant crack in the earth. With the help of their pet bird, Octavia and a magical seed, the family go on a journey to the surface. A charming, fantastical story about discovery, the potential for growth, the power of an idea and the importance of having faith in the unknown.

https://www.quentinblake.com/ 

Children's

Publication DetailsNotes

ON THE MOVE

2020

Walker Books

"What you leave behind Won't leave your mind. But home is where you find it. Home is where you find it." Michael Rosen and Sir Quentin Blake join forces for a landmark new collection, focusing on migration and displacement. Michael’s poems are divided into four: in the first series, he draws on his childhood as part of a first-generation Polish family living in London; in the second, on his perception of the War as a young boy; in the third, on his “missing” relatives and the Holocaust; and in the fourth, and final, on global experiences of migration. By turns charming, shocking and heart-breaking, this is an anthology with a story to tell and a powerful point to make: “You can only do something now.”

THE WEED

2020

Tate Publishing

An inspiring fable about the power of nature, encouraging children and adults alike to care for the environment and each other. The Meadowsweet family suddenly and expectedly find themselves at the bottom of a giant crack in the earth. With the help of their pet bird, Octavia and a magical seed, the family go on a journey to the surface. A charming, fantastical story about discovery, the potential for growth, the power of an idea and the importance of having faith in the unknown.

THREE LITTLE MONKEYS RIDE AGAIN

2019

HarperCollins

Beep! Beep! The three little monkeys are back in an irresistible new story! Hilda Snibbs is taking her three mischievous monkeys to visit her mother in the country. But what is supposed to be a calm and peaceful holiday is soon filled with chaos and hilarious havoc! Quentin Blake’s delightfully funny story is brought to life by Emma Chichester Clark’s beautiful mixed-media illustration in this landmark follow up to Three Little Monkeys.

BILLY AND THE MINPINS

2017

Penguin

Billy’s Mum says he must never go out through the garden gate and explore the dark forest beyond. So, one day, that’s exactly what he does ...

Illustrated by Quentin Blake for the first time, Billy and the Minpins is a new interpretation of Roald Dahl’s very last story (originally published as ‘The Minpins’ in 1991) and marks nearly forty years of their magical collaboration.

ALL THE YEAR ROUND

2017

Andersen Press

There are hundreds of reasons for welcoming seasons! A collection of poems by John Yeoman for every month of the year, brought to life by Quentin Blake!

A DRINK OF WATER

2017

Thames & Hudson

First published in 1960, this charming book of animal fables was the first children’s book either Quentin Blake or John Yeoman ever published.

This edition is a faithful re-creation of the original book, with a foreword by Quentin Blake.

THE TALE OF KITTY IN BOOTS

2016

Penguin

"A serious, well-behaved young black cat, who leads a daring double life defeating vile villains."

When Miss Kitty sneaks out to go hunting in her beautiful boots she gets herself into all sorts of scrapes, but on this particular night she meets the foxiest hunter of them all - Mr. Tod!

This utterly entertaining tale is filled with mistaken identities, devious villains and even an appearance from Peter Rabbit.

THREE LITTLE MONKEYS

2016

HarperCollins

A remarkable collaboration – that brings together giants of the picture book world – to create a funny, anarchic and utterly delightful picture book. A classic of the future.
Hilda Snibbs had three little monkeys. Their names were Tim and Sam and Lulu. They were very lively…

THE FIVE OF US

2014

Tate

THE FIVE OF US is a captivating tale of adventure, friendship and teamwork from one of Britain's best-loved illustrators. Angie, Ollie, Simona, Mario and Eric are five fantastic friends, each of whom has an unusual ability. Disaster strikes on a day out to the countryside but, working together and combining their individual powers, the Fantastic Five save the day. Teeming with Quentin Blake's characteristic sense of fun and his exuberant illustrations, THE FIVE OF US is also a powerful, though subtle, reminder that the world is a better place when we focus on what we can do, rather than on what we can't.

MICHAEL ROSEN'S SAD BOOK

2011

UK:Walker Books (Translation: Walker Books)

We all have sad stuff - maybe you have some right now, as you read this. What makes Michael Rosen most sad is thinking about his son, Eddie, who died. In this book he writes about his sadness, how it affects him and some of the things he does to try to cope with it. Whether or not you have known what it's like to feel really deeply sad, the truth of this book will surely touch you.
Quentin Blake's beautiful and poignant illustrations were produced in full collaboration with Michael Rosen's words, making this a wonderful example of the many books Quentin produces with other writers.

MR STINK

2009

HarperCollins

The second original, touching, twisted, and most of all hilarious novel for children from David Walliams, number one bestseller and fastest growing children’s author in the country – beautifully illustrated by Quentin Blake.

"Mr Stink stank. He also stunk. And if it was correct English to say he stinked, then he stinked as well…”

It all starts when Chloe makes friends with Mr Stink, the local tramp. Yes, he smells a bit. But when it looks like he might be driven out of town, Chloe decides to hide him in the garden shed.

Now Chloe's got to make sure no one finds out her secret. And speaking of secrets, there just might be more to Mr Stink than meets the eye… or the nose.

THE BOY IN THE DRESS

2009

HarperCollins

The sparkling debut children’s novel from David Walliams, number one bestseller and fastest growing children’s author in the country.

Illustrated by Quentin Blake and brilliantly written by David Walliams, The Boy in the Dress is full of the sharp humour and vivid characters you would expect from the co-creator and co-star of Little Britain.

It is also a timeless and hilarious fable about what happens when an ordinary boy does something extraordinary – and the way that people, even the petty and cruel, can surprise you in the end. Quentin's illustrious black and white drawings are interspersed throughout, forming a perfect accompaniment to this funny and touching story.

MR STINK

2009

World; HarperCollins

The second original, touching, twisted, and most of all hilarious novel for children by David Walliams – beautifully illustrated by Quentin Blake.
"Mr Stink stank. He also stunk. And if it was correct English to say he stinked, then he stinked as well…”

It all starts when Chloe makes friends with Mr Stink, the local tramp. Yes, he smells a bit. But when it looks like he might be driven out of town, Chloe decides to hide him in the garden shed.

Now Chloe's got to make sure no one finds out her secret. And speaking of secrets, there just might be more to Mr Stink than meets the eye… or the nose.

D IS FOR DAHL

2005

UK: Viking Children's Books; US: Viking Juvenile; Japanese: Hyronsha; Dutch: De Fontein Jeugd

From Aardvark to Zipfizzing, this is THE alphabetical guide to everything you ever needed to know - and a lot that you didn't - about Britain's best-loved, bestselling children's writer, packed with fascinating and completely unnecessary facts about Dahl's life, books and family. With snippets from his school reports, secrets that he shared with his best friends and the truth about where he got the inspiration for his most famous creations - once you dip in to D is for Dahl you'll be sucked into an irresistible vortex and come out a complete Dahlmaniac!

ANGEL PAVEMENT

2005

UK: Jonathan Cape Children's Books; (Translation: Jonathan Cape)

Corky and Loopy are two perfectly normal girls. They like chocolate biscuits, fizzy drinks, screaming at each other and drawing. But they are also a little bit special - because they are angels. One day they visit Sid, a pavement artist. Sid is sad because he wants to take part in the big drawing competition but can't work out how the judges will ever get to see his work. Corky and Loopy decide to help and give him a very special pencil from their collection. So begins a bright and colourful adventure from the brilliant Quentin Blake.

Fiction

Publication DetailsNotes

THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS

2010

UK: Atlantic Books

With text by John Julius Norwich, this is a delightful spoof of the carol "The Twelve Days of Christmas", which records the daily thank-you letters from one increasingly bemused young lady to her unseen admirer: from initial gratitude for the delightful partridge in the sweet little pear tree, through to dismay and distress and finally a solicitor's letter, as a bacchanalia of pipers, scantily clad dancers and the full percussion section of the Liverpool Philharmonic create mayhem outside her door. The witty full-colour drawings by Quentin Blake are a perfect accompaniment to the irrepressible humour of this sparkling little book.

Non-Fiction

Publication DetailsNotes

The QB Papers

2020

Quentin Blake

THE QB PAPERS are a series of 20 large-format books of drawings self-published by Quentin and distributed by Thames and Hudson. 'In recent years I have found myself working increasingly in sequences of drawings which explore subjects and techniques which interest me. These sequences are the origins of the QB Papers; they vary in approach and tone, and between reality and fantasy. But I hope that in each of them in its own way will appeal to anyone who likes looking at drawings.’ - Quentin Blake.

MOONLIGHT TRAVELLERS

2019

Thames & Hudson

Blake’s watercolors relate, with dark, fantastical humor, the experience of journeying across unknown landscapes in the dead of night. Accompanying this artistic narrative is an equally evocative text from the ever-brilliant mind of Will Self. With characteristic sharpness and wit, Self melds fact, fiction, and memory to transport the reader in the most radical way, departing on unexpected trajectories in response to Blake’s visual romp through time and space. Together, word and image connect with our deepest sensibilities in Moonlight Travellers as we journey through the landscapes and dreamscapes of night.

Film, TV & Theatre